NEET exams may be deferred by 1 year; Centre mulls an ordinance

The government is likely to issue formal orders soon after it held consultations with the states.

May 18, 2016 12:25 IST

[Representational image]Reuters

Following rounds of consultations with the states on Monday, the central government is mulling to pass an ordinance aimed to defer the implementation of the Supreme Court's order on National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) by one year. The NEET-II exams are scheduled to be held on July 24.

The Press Trust of India quoted official sources as saying that the ordinance could be brought to "postpone the effect of the Supreme Court judgement by 12 months."

On April 28, the Supreme Court directed the Centre and the Central Board of School Education (CBSE) to conduct a single common entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses through NEET.

The Supreme Court also rejected the pleas of several states to allow them conduct separate medical entrance tests.

However, Union Health minister JP Nadda on Monday said that he would discuss the issue with the states in the wake of opposition lodged by them.

Although no formal orders have been issued yet, Nadda made it clear to state health ministers in the meeting that the private medical colleges and deemed universities cannot have their separate exams and would have to admit students only through NEET, according to the PTI.

Only the state medical colleges would be allowed to conduct the exams this year if an ordinance is passed.

Nadda reportedly said that several corrective measures would soon be started to overhaul the medical education system in the country after the Supreme Court came down heavily on the Medical Council of India (MCI), accusing it of corruption and nepotism.

The Supreme Court had earlier said the apprehensions of the private medical colleges, minority colleges and some states that the conduct of a common entrance test (NEET) will deny them their separate legislative rights, do not hold ground.

The Supreme Court has said that CBSE would act as a single authority, which will hold the medical entrance exams throughout the country.

It also said that those students who missed NEET-I exams on May 1, 2016, are eligible to appear in NEET-II exams on July 24.